Fewer than 48 hours to go until the HERO UCI Cross-country Marathon World Cup’s first round
Dear HEROes,
The wait is nearly over. The much-awaited weekend is just around the corner – with just 48 hours to go, hundreds of cyclists will sprint from the starting line of the HERO Costa Blanca presented by Millennium Luxury Properties’ first edition in Spain. They’ll be competing on the dirt tracks between Calpe and Benissa, which overlook the crystal-clear Mediterranean waters.
Prepare for a thrilling side programme at the HERO Village, which will open its doors on Friday, 20 February, between 10:00 and 17:00. On the same day, at 15:30, the official presentation of the 2026 UCI XCM Teams will take place on the main stage, followed by the HERO Race Talk at 16:00. During the Talk, high-level athletes the likes of Natalia Fischer (Extremadura Ecopilas) and David Valero (Klimatiza Orbea Team) from Spain, Hannah Otto from the USA, and Leo Paez from Colombia (Lee Cougan Basso Factory Racing) will share their impressions and feelings in the run-up to the race. The event will be LIVE streamed on the World Cup’s Instagram profile on Friday, 20 February, at 16:00: instagram.com/heroucimarathonworldcup
On Saturday, the Elite Men will start at 8:00 at the Parc de la Creativitat, followed by the Elite Women at 8:10. The Master category will kick off at 8:20, while the amateurs will start at 8:30.
The first men from the Elite category should cross the finish line at 12:00 in Calpe, followed by the Elite Women, and the Master category. The event will end at 13:00 with the Prize Giving Ceremony for the winners of the HERO Costa Blanca
While the adults compete on the Costa Blanca’s climbs, the Organising Committee has come up with an event for the future HEROes: the HERO Kids Costa Blanca. This event will be held on Saturday, 21 February, at 9:30 – so that even the youngest cyclist can experience the beauty that is mountain biking.
Ready to go? Because the event is just around the corner!
See you at the starting line
The HERO Costa Blanca Start List: